There’s no question that speed will be the aim of the game when NSW surf lifesavers takes to the ocean at the Interstate Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) Championships at Cudgen Headland SLSC next month.

The influence of surf lifesavers in the wider community extends well beyond the beach and this has once again been acknowledged in the 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours Awards announced on Monday.

They may now call Queensland home, but Nutri-Grain Iron Stars Matt Poole and Kirsty Higginson were top billing at the Age Championships on Saturday as they signed autographs, posed for photos, and talked about their experience in sport to a throng of young champions.

With the focus on the numerous team events to be contested there was plenty of club spirit displayed during a highly entertaining second day of the 2017 NSW Surf Life Saving Age Championships at Blacksmiths Beach.

In an exciting final day of competition at the 2017 NSW Surf Life Saving Age Championships Manly streaked ahead to claim their eighth straight title, but they didn’t have it all their own way with a number of memorable performances on display at Blacksmiths Beach on Sunday.

Past friendships will be renewed and that competitive rivalry which has never quite faded is sure to be on display when the Masters Athletes take Blacksmiths Beach for the 2017 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships on Wednesday morning.

After losing their title to Bondi Surf Bathers last year the veterans of Queenscliff responded in the best possible fashion by surging to an overall lead on the first day of competition at the 2017 NSW Surf Life Saving Masters Championships.

An early morning fishing trip turned to tragedy on Sunday with one man drowning and his friends requiring rescuing after they were washed into the water near North Head.

Behind the well-drilled discipline, colour and tradition of the March Past lies a story of friendship and a deep passion for Surf Life Saving, and nowhere is that more apparent than at Collaroy SLSC.

It was a day to remember at the recent NSW Surf Life Saving Championships at Blacksmiths Beach for a group of distinguished lifesavers who were presented to the wider movement as the latest inductees of the exclusive club of State Life Members.